Media Notes

In N.Y., Claire Atksinson cited sources as saying that Hulu, which attracted “31 million unique users in March under a free-for-all model, is taking its first steps to change to a model where viewers will have to prove they are a pay-TV customer to watch their favorite shows.” The sources said that the move by Hulu toward the new model “was behind the move last week by Providence Equity Partners to cash out of Hulu after five years.” Atkinson noted Fox is “expected to begin talks soon with Comcast on a TV Everywhere deal that will require authentication.” Comcast is also “expected to switch to an authentication model for this summer’s Olympic Games” (N.Y. POST, 4/30).

ADVANTAGE, RANGERS: In Dallas, Barry Horn noted Saturday from 8:30-10:15pm CT, when the MLB Rangers and Mavericks “went head-to-head, the 21st game of the Rangers regular season out-scored the Mavs playoff opener.” The Rangers on FS Southwest “scored a 8.0 rating in those 105 minutes" compared to a 6.2 for the Mavericks on KTXA-CBS (2.1) and ESPN (4.1). The Mavericks “picked up steam after the Rangers-Rays ended" and finished with a combined 8.0 on ESPN (5.0) and KTXA (3.0) for the entire game. The Rangers “full game average was a 7.6” (DALLASNEWS.com, 4/30).

A WELCOME SURPRISE: The GUARDIAN'S Tara Conlan notes the BBC is “expecting an operating surplus” of US$227.2M for its “latest financial year to the end of March 2012, which it will use for any unexpected overspends in its Queen’s jubilee and Olympics coverage.” The surplus “may surprise some BBC staff who are facing job cuts … but the corporation said it plans to use it as a reserve for any extra costs incurred while covering the Olympics and diamond jubilee this summer” (GUARDIAN, 5/1).

AUDI ON AIR: DAILY VARIETY’s Marc Graser reported Speed “will air Audi's documentary ‘Truth in 24 II: Every Second Counts,’ May 5 before releasing the film about the grueling 24-hour Le Mans race on Apple's iTunes for free.” The film, “written and helmed by Rob Gehring, and produced by Intersports and NFL Films, revisits Audi Sports' racing team as it tries to win its 10th Le Mans race in 13 years.” Actor Jason Statham “once again narrates the pic, as he did the first, which followed the 2008 team.” Intersport President & CEO Charles Besser, NFL Senior VP/Broadcasting & Media Operations Howard Katz and NFL Films President Steve Sabol “serve as exec producers” (VARIETY.com, 4/27).